Zonta ready for boutique event

Bargains even include special selection of gowns

April 3, 2014

MARIETTA - The semi-annual Zonta Club of Marietta Unique Boutique clothing and accessories sale will be held 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Frontier Shopping Center beside Tractor Supply.

Bargain prices range from 50 cents to $10 for the gently used or never used men's, women's and children's clothing, belts, purses, shoes, scarves and other items.

"And we have something new this year. Misti Sims, who owns Little Black Dress Events in Parkersburg, heard how our boutique helps women and she is donating about 200 formal and prom gowns for the sale," said Sharon Coffman, president of the local Zonta Club.

Article Photos

Photo by Sam ShawverMarsha Brletrick-Ward checks out a two-piece outfit that will be among thousands of pieces of new or gently-used clothing and accessories for men, women and children on sale during the Zonta Club of Marietta’s Unique Boutique Friday and Saturday.

She said the gowns will be sold for $10 each.

In addition, Angie Siegfried, owner of Change of A'Dress on Front Street in Marietta, has donated several large totes of new clothes that will be sold during the Unique Boutique, Coffman said.

"It's spring and there are lots of weddings coming up, so it's perfect timing to offer these dresses and gowns," she added.

Every spring and fall the local Zonta Club, part of an international organization with a mission of advancing the status of women, receives clothing donations from the community that are sorted, priced and placed on racks or display tables by club volunteers.

Donations of clothing and accessories will be accepted today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the sale location next to Tractor Supply in the Frontier Shopping Center.

Proceeds from the sales help provide scholarships to help with expenses for area women who want to attend college.

Marsha Brletrick-Ward of Marietta, a past recipient of a Zonta scholarship, was helping sort and hang clothing Tuesday in preparation for the weekend sale.

"I was ecstatic to receive the scholarship," she said. "Books and transportation are so expensive. But it helped me earn a liberal arts degree in math from Washington State Community College.

Chris Lisk, publicity chair for the Zonta Club, said there's always a good turnout for the Unique Boutique and the sale generates around $4,000 to support the scholarship program.

"We receive a lot of good donated clothing throughout the year for this sale," she said. "My whole sun room and a storage building at home were full of bags of clothing people donated over the winter months. And spring is a good time for the sale because many people are cleaning out their closets this time of year."

Lisk noted some of the clothing items have never been worn and still have the original store tags on them.

"But we sell everything for $10 or less," she said. "Purses, including many designer bags, sell for only 50 cents. I found a Coach designer purse for 50 cents one year. And they sell for more than $100."

All shoes will sell for 50 cents at the boutique, Lisk said.

T-shirts and shorts sell for $1 and dresses, coats, jackets and two-piece outfits will sell for $5.

"We're also pulling clothes for a plus-size rack this year," Lisk said. "And there are plenty of clothes for men, too."

She said the Zonta Club of Marietta is 54 years old this year, and the Unique Boutique sales have been held for at least 30 of those years.

Coffman encourages everyone to come early in order to get the best selection.

"Last year we already had people lined up at the door at 4 p.m. when the Friday sale started," she said.